42 U.S.C. § 17113a — Low-emissions steel manufacturing research program

(a) Purpose: This section exists to encourage research into new technologies that make U.S. industry and manufacturing more competitive, and that significantly cut net non-water greenhouse gas emissions from making iron, steel, and steel mill products.

(b) Definitions: This section defines six terms. "Commercially available steelmaking" means however iron, steel, and steel mill products are currently made. "Critical material" and "critical mineral" both borrow their meaning from a separate mining law. An "eligible entity" is a university, an appropriate State^* or Federal entity (including a Department-funded research center), a nonprofit research institution, a private entity, any other entity the Secretary^* finds appropriate, or a partnership of two or more of those. "Institution of higher education" borrows its meaning from a separate education law. "Low-emissions steel manufacturing" means either advanced or ordinary commercially available steelmaking, done in a way that cuts net non-water greenhouse gas emissions from making iron, steel, and steel mill products as much as is practicable.

(c) In general: Within 180 days of August 9, 2022, the Secretary had to set up a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of advanced tools, technologies, and methods for low-emissions steel manufacturing.

(d) Requirements: In running this program, the Secretary must coordinate it with related programs authorized in a specific 2021 appropriations law; coordinate across every relevant Department office, including the Offices of Science, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, and Nuclear Energy; make practical use of the Department's research infrastructure, such as scientific computing facilities, x-ray light sources, neutron scattering facilities, and nanoscale science centers; and conduct research, development, and demonstration of technologies that could increase domestic steel production and jobs.

(e) Strategic plan: Within 180 days of August 9, 2022, the Secretary had to write a five-year strategic plan setting goals for the program, and send it to the House Science Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The plan must identify related Department programs, including the demonstration projects in subsection (h); set technical and programmatic goals; and include timelines. The Secretary must send an updated version of the plan to those same committees at least once every two years.

(f) Focus areas: The program must focus on six things. First, medium- and high-temperature heat generation technologies, which may include alternative fuels like hydrogen and biomass, alternative reducing agents like hydrogen, renewable heat sources like solar and geothermal, and electrifying the heating process, including through electrolysis. Second, carbon capture technologies for steelmaking, which may include combustion and chemical looping, using slag to cut carbon dioxide emissions, and both pre- and post-combustion capture. Third, smart and digital manufacturing and data analytics that model and monitor production lines and optimize their energy efficiency. Fourth, technologies and practices^* that minimize energy and resource use, including designing products for reuse and recycling, minimizing and reusing waste, and increasing resource and energy efficiency generally. Fifth, alternative materials and technologies that cause fewer emissions both to produce and to use, including new raw materials, lightweight materials, and substitutes for critical materials and minerals. Sixth, high-performance computing to help design efficient, sustainable products, including through digital prototyping and additive manufacturing.

(g) Testing and validation: Working with the Director^* of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary must support the development of standardized tests and technical validation for both steelmaking and low-emissions steel manufacturing, through collaboration with at least one National Laboratory and at least one eligible entity.

(h) Demonstration: Within 180 days of August 9, 2022, the Secretary, working with industry, universities, and the National Laboratories, had to support an initiative to demonstrate low-emissions steel manufacturing, using either a single technology or a combination of technologies. In choosing which eligible entities carry out the demonstration projects, the Secretary must, as much as practical, encourage regional diversity (including participation by rural states) and technological diversity, make sure the projects build on the Department's existing technology demonstration programs, and prioritize projects that bring in matching funds from non-Federal sources. The Secretary must report on the initiative's performance to the same two congressional committees at least once every two years, and if the initiative ever ends, must submit an assessment of how successful it was and what it taught.

(i) Additional coordination: In carrying out this section, the Secretary must consider using the resources of existing Manufacturing USA Institutes, integrating this program's activities into an existing institute, or creating a brand-new institute focused on low-emissions steel manufacturing. The Secretary must also coordinate with other Federal agencies working on related research, including the Departments of Defense and Transportation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.